By Infora Media
Kampala, Uganda – President Yoweri Museveni has accused the Uganda Police Force of negligence, claiming that intimidation by opposition supporters prevented many National Resistance Movement (NRM) supporters from voting during the January 15 presidential and parliamentary elections.
The President made the remarks on Monday while addressing supporters during NRM Liberation Day celebrations at Kololo Independence Grounds.
President Museveni, who was declared winner of the presidential election by the Electoral Commission, secured 7.9 million votes, representing 71.6 percent of the valid votes cast. His closest challenger, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, popularly known as Bobi Wine, garnered 2.7 million votes (24.7 percent) and has since rejected the election results.
Addressing NRM supporters, President Museveni stated that the ruling party enjoys support from about 18 million Ugandans, with approximately 14 million registered voters, but noted that only about eight million voted in his favor.
“I got eight million votes. Where are my six million votes?” the President asked, attributing the shortfall to alleged intimidation by opposition supporters that he said was not adequately addressed by the police.
The President further alleged that some NRM supporters were attacked during the election period and criticized the police for failing to take action.
“Why should anyone be attacked because of elections?” he asked, adding that abusive language and threats discouraged some voters from turning up.
The 2026 general elections were conducted amid a nationwide internet shutdown and heightened security operations targeting opposition supporters, developments that attracted international attention.
The European Union condemned the post-election crackdown, while some members of the United States Senate called for sanctions against senior Ugandan officials, including the Chief of Defence Forces, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kyagulanyi has appealed to regional and international actors to apply pressure on the Ugandan government. The United States has previously imposed sanctions on several Ugandan officials.